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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Having readers make book trailers is a great motivator for continued reading among all students. Students promoting books provides skill practice in many areas ( reading, writing, organizing, analyzing, just to name a few). Book trailers for readers can be in many forms, many of the sites we have mentioned in this blog can be used to make book trailers, or posts about favorite books,

Michelle Harderode, teacher librarian , has developed this site. On it you can find book trailers she has produced, and also student produced book trailers. There are so many great features to this website. There is a section on readers theater, authors book trailers and tips for making book trailers with students. You can find trailers on newly released books.

Under special features there is information on book trailers and the common core, research on the value of making book trailers, battle of the book information, and literacy lessons for school librarians.

Since the sub title is "Spotlighting Books for Kids and Teens" , you can just start introducing this site to your students to help them find great books that they want to read!

Monday, March 25, 2013

What other library policies do you have written down( or at least in your head?) A book selection policy will follow your Collection Development policy. ( See March blog post)

In your book selection policy, how do you select books that will be purchased for your library? Do you read reviews before purchasing? How many do you read? Does what you do for selection all make sense and is it a reasonable way to select books for your collection?Whatever you do, refine and write it down.

In my policy , I have written that I will read two reviews for non-fiction and three for fiction. I will check also the ALA listing for children's / teens books and will check other award lists for recommended books. The policy also details what the current curriculum is following , and will note that library selection of nonfiction also depends curriculum requirement I had this written down in detail in my book selection policy.

With your mission statement, your collection development policy and your book selection policy, you are now on your way to your policy and procedures book . I will continue to add different topics / statements so that you will have a complete book for your library . Keep me posted as to what you have and what you are working on.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Maintaining a neat and organized office workspace is an ongoing process. You should never think that you are organized and that is the end.The initial organizing will be the most work , but you can begin seeing improvement after a few sessions. When you think you are done , then you will be on a maintenance schedule similar to keeping your house work done.

If you have read my blog on 3/11/13 about Organization in the Library, and files and piles and have started to begin this process then you are on your way. By now your library will be looking and feeling more organized and you will be getting more work done and feeling better and better.
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Let's look at some other areas of your office and library where you might want to be more efficient. Look at an office supply catalog ( print or online ) When you do you will so many organizing tools. If there is a spot or area that needs redoing , look for ways that organizing tools could help you accomplish that task.

Where you do keep your files? Do you have adequate file space? Are the files in order? Keep your file with your current to do and daily activities close to where you work. Other files that are needed can be kept close to your desk. Files that are needed but not looked at daily can be kept in another file cabinet . ( I call them my historical files)

Develop and keep a consistent naming system for both your print and computer files. ( See The Organized Librarian book) This will help you to easily find and retrieve the information and files you need .

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

There are so many links on this site!! It is great for librarians, teachers and parents. Librarians will love it!
Under Library and Literature Lesson plans you will find links to Curriculum and Standards, library scheduling, information units, and literature units. There are also links to technology units.
Also there are many links to literature web sites. The site has links for both elementary and secondary levels.
Under Information Literacy, there is a small list of Web 2.0 tools for use by teachers and librarians .In the Media Lit tab there many links to resources for librarians and technology teachers to use with students of all ages.
The Library Curriculum tab is arranged by month and has links to lessons, topics, and authors. I can't wait to see the new ideas for each month.
There are tabs for each month with ideas for lesson ideas and step by step models. Also there are extensive author links, and also links for books on each age level.
Check out this site, you will be amazed on how much information you can use to help you with. . Your staff will love it too!

Monday, March 18, 2013

So you have your mission statement and your goals and objectives. What policies do you have in printed form?
You may want to get your collection development and book selection polices and procedures written and down and accepted by your Administration/ Board.
Why should you have Written Policies? Sooner or later, if it has not happened already, someone (parents, patrons, administrators) will question why you have a book or books in your collections.
With theses policies( having been hopefully approved and accepted) you can refer the question to the written policy ( More information is in The Organized Librarian)
To begin your policy for collection development and book selection, think about whom your library serves. What kinds of information do they need, what types of books do they like to read?
If you are not sure or want to have an accurate picture find out by asking your patrons ( students, teachers , ect) through surveys, polls, informal discussions, and informal interviews.
With your audience in mind, prepare your collection development policy. By using inventory statistics, begin noting how will develop and expand your collection. What areas need to be expanded upon? What formats do patrons and students want?
This policy , when finalized, will specify subject areas to be developed , with other areas noted to be maintained and eventually developed. A time frame for development would probably be included,
Also there should be statements about how long the policy will be in effect and when the policy will be revised and updated.
This policy will help you in purchasing item,s The collection development policy will ensure continuity in selection and revision of materials for the library collection.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

This week the site I am writing about is Edmodo! What a great site for educators! It is compared to Facebook for teachers ,but even better! There are many safety measures to keep students on their tasks. Once you register( its Free) then you can add your students in class groups.

Edmodo is a site where students and teachers can collaborate when class is over- continue with class discussions, give polls and surveys to check for comprehension and understanding.

This is site where teachers can share lessons and ideas with other colleagues who are doing the same subject area as they are. Teachers are also connect to be best quality resources to assist them and their students. There is a planner chart where you can place plans for the week. A Progress chart is also provided which will be helpful for keeping track of students work. Edmodo has a library tab where you can add links and files of current and past work. This way you can save all your resources in one neat spot.

I found lots of items my teachers will love( writing prompts, lesson search, put in assignments, view slide shows for different subject areas, reward badges for students and, tons of ideas for activities)www.edmodo.com

Monday, March 11, 2013

Libraries are naturally organized- mainly the books and resources. The key to successful and seamless library programs / tasks is the organization of everything else. If you are organized them you will have more time and get more done. So lets get started!

You may have paper, catalog, files , and you may be overloaded with these types of items floating around your library and office . Do you have stacks of folders? The best way to attack them is to set aside time each day to go through and decided what to do with all of those files, papers, catalogs, and items lying around.

Start with three folders or baskets or bins. Mark each one with : TO DO NOW, TO DO LATER,
TO FILE . Take some file folders.. Also take a trash/ recycling bin.

Bring with you a pen, and sticky notes. As you look at each item/ paper/ file decide where it should go. Make an immediate decision. Scan though it . At this time, you can place a sticky note for the item to be placed in a specific file,

If you glance at a catalog and see something you might purchase at a later date, mark it with a sticky note and file it in a folder marked : Possible Purchase. I also keep a catalog file( noted in The Organized Librarian ) of catalogs that I refer to on a yearly basis.

Put each item in the bin/basket/file if you intend to keep the item . If it is not needed put in the trash or recycling bin. If you take 15 -20 minutes each day, in no time you will have your papers /files in order and your library more organized and efficient.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Managing a library is about producing and coordinatingmultiplefunctions and tasks.Functions
involving planning, organizing,controlling, and leading are all part of managing a library and its
programs.As librarians we need to make
many decisions about how the library is run, organized, and maintained.In many respects we are like administrators
, managing the library , in a similar way that they manage the school.

One of the first functions is planning on what the library ( and its programs) will accomplish. That is what we have done in preparing and developing the mission statement and the
goals / objectives of the library.

Planning will be something that will take time and special thought. While we did take time with the mission and the goals, they will lead us to better planning of programs and procedures. At each stage , we can compare them to our mission and goals to see if they coincide.

Planning also is the step that if best if done before jumping into action. Why? Well because if we plan an activity, a procedure book, a program, lessons, or almost anything, we are more than likely to accomplish what we set out to do and also do it more efficiently .

How to Plan: Take a blank sheet of paper. Start with the desired outcome at the bottom of the sheet. Think and jot down notes: what steps do you need to do to get there? Does this plan and the outcome coincide with our mission and goals?. Will this activity further our mission and goals?

To me planning is thinking on paper. I like to write everything down and see the steps and see what I will do before jumping into action,

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Kidblog is designed for K-12 teachers who want each student to have an individual blog on which to work. Students publish posts and participate in discussions within a secure classroom community. Teachers have complete control over student blogs and user accounts.

Teachers can use Kidblog to create classroom discussions, learn digital citizenship, and practice their writing skills. The student blog can serve as an e-portfolio and teachers can assess their writing as it progresses.

Teachers go in and sign up your classes and give the students their login and password. Kids can log in and write from anyplace. This makes it easy for teachers , they can also benefit because you can eliminate lugging home tons of notebooks. This is a great motivator to get students to write and read. Great for book discussion, lesson discussion and can lend itself to any curriculum.

This looks like a great place to have students bring their ideas and writing to the class, and make writing an authentic task.

Monday, March 4, 2013

When you are asked to do a task / job/ activity from your
board or Administration , take a second before saying yes.Will accepting that t task or job, take away time and effort
from your mission and goals?Or does it
go along with your objectives?Will it help further you mission as a
librarian Media Specialist? Does this new activity help you complete your focus of tasks and activities? ( Example- hosting a book fair in the library will help increase your visibility and get students and teachers into the library.)

If the task is not
going to further your goals, saying
nomay be appropriate. One good way to give yourself time to think about the task
and your missions / goals is to say, “Let me think about it” or “I’ll have to
get back to you.” .

Saying No with
grace and then decide explanations isa
skill learnedby doing. Try to imagine someone asking you to do an activity that does not advance your goals.( Example: You are asked to direct the school play) Rehearse what you would say-first thing comes to my mine- "I'll have to think about it and get back to you."

We do not want to
offend or discourage, but we want to make known the work we do and why we do
it.Perhaps you can agree to a
supporting role (helping without being the person in charge) ," "I will have end of year inventory at that time and will not be really able to give full attention to the play- perhaps I could help with props or scenery ?"

At any rate, stop
and think about your goals . Just say no when it is appropriate .You do not have to compromise your library for the sake of an activity that takes too much time away from what you really need and want to do,

Friday, March 1, 2013

Now that you have your mission and objective/ goals,
it is time to use them on a daily basis. If you work each day without clear
goals and missions, you will not get as much accomplished as you would like. If your missions and goals are posted in your library and office , you will be reminded of the important things you need to do.

So either before you leave for work each
day, or first thing in the morning, make a to do list of no more than 5 items
to accomplish. This simple act will provide focus and then closure. Check these five items with your goals and mission statement. Make sure that what you plan will further your steps towards your goals and mission. This also allows you to complete items that are high on the priority list, and disregard the tasks that do not make a big difference to you mission. Keep the
list in a prominent place( on your desk, on a clipboard, in your planner) where you will see it as you are working. Check each item off when you
are done.While itmay take
a while to get used to this technique, it will bring you to accomplish your
missions and goals. It will provide a sense of satisfaction in seeing
tasks completed and your mission becoming part of your daily program. Preparing this simple list each day will help you become more focused and more aware of what is really important to your library. By making this list you will also get much more accomplished to further your mission of your library.

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About this site

This site will give you hints and tips on being organized, articles on current issues important to both public and school librarians, and ideas on some of the newest tech tools. I love being a librarian! I believe that reading, learning. and technology go hand in hand! I am a career librarian in both school and public libraries. My book The Organized Librarian is now available as an ebook and will perhaps be expanded to a print selection. Look here for excerpts of the book and also how to order. This book will give details on how to organize your self and your library to get more accomplished.